Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Well the last blog of the year….ended my year playing tennis this morning I have not played for over two weeks so it was good to get back on the courts..afterwards I went to see if Paola was home but she was not but I was told that she and her family had gone out for a few days to visit friends in the country so I will keep trying till she comes home.

I then went and bought a propane tank for my BBQ so I see in the future lots of meals on the grill.

I spent the whole afternoon cooking and have now quite a few meals in the freezer…..

Tonight I was invited to Linda and Guy’s and we had a wonderful dinner..thanks so much.

It is cold again tonight but I am dressed in my sweats and a sweater and watching the junior hockey game from Sweden..I may or may not stay up till midnight I think I will hear the fireworks anyway.

It has been a remarkable year for me and I feel so lucky and blessed for everything in my life from good health to wonderful friends….I love where I live and my life is busy and I like it that way. I have suffered two losses this year and I did the best I could.

2014 is going to be a year that I embrace and look forward to……I want to thank all my readers for coming here every day.

To all my lovely caring and special friends..thank you for being in my life….Blessings and may all your dreams come true in 2014!!!

Top Ten New Year’s Eve Traditions

Photo from: Wikipedia

10. Spain

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, it’s customary for Spaniards to quickly eat 12 uvas (grapes) – one at each stroke of the clock. Each grape signifies good luck for one month of the new year. In cities across Spain, revelers congregate in the main squares to gobble their grapes together while also passing around bottles of cava (what tradition would be complete without alcohol?).

9. Denmark

Danes ring in the New Year by hurling old glasses and plates against the doors of friends’ and relatives’ houses. Some Danes also stand on chairs and then jump off them as a group at midnight. Leaping into the new year is supposed to banish bad spirits and bring good luck

8. Japan

The faithful in Japan wear a costume of the next year’s zodiac animal (in 2014 it will be the horse) to the local temple, where bells chime a sacred 108 times.

7. South Africa

In what might be the most dangerous celebration in the world, residents of Johannesburg throw old appliances out the window.

6. Philippines

Round shapes, which represent coins, are thought to symbolize wealth and prosperity for the coming Some Filipino families do more than display the fruits – they eat exactly 12 fruits at midnight.

5. Central and South America

In Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador, it is considered lucky to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve. In many of the cities, such as Sao Paulo and La Paz, market vendors come out in full force a few days before New Year’s Eve to display their selections of brightly colored underpants. The most popular colors are yellow and red: yellow is supposed to bring luck and money and red is supposed to bring love.

4. Russia

Russians write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, throw the ashes in to a glass of champagne, and then drink it before 12:01. The wish is supposed to come true.

3. Germany

Every single year, no matter what other traditions they observe, Germans take a break to watch the British show “Dinner for One” at midnight. Though it began in 1972, the origin of the tradition is unknown. It has become so popular that even the punch line “same procedure every year” now is a catch phrase in Germany.

2. Ecuador

Ecuador has a unique custom of making scarecrows and then burning them at midnight. They fill the scarecrows with newspapers and pieces of wood and then dress them up. As the start of the New Year approaches, everyone gathers outside their homes and each family burns their scarecrow. This supposedly destroys all the bad things that happened in the previous 12 months. The scarecrow also scares bad luck and fills the New Year with good luck and happiness.

1. Ecuador (again)

Perhaps the strangest New Years tradition is teenage boys dressing up as females. They dress as viudas (widows) of the Año Viejos (old year) by accentuating their breast and butt areas with pillows or balloons. They then dance provocatively and beg for money, causing traffic jams around the city.

My yahoo went on the blink and I have lost every single e mail address in my contact list would you send me an email so I can get you back in … you know my address…I am talking about over 85 friends….thanks les

Monday, December 30, 2013

Still cool in the mornings and not much sun and because it is Monday you all know by now what that means…Paty comes to clean…so you know what I do before she comes!!!!

I then went into town did some chores and took Little Bluey for a shampoo and clean up

This young man spent over 35 minutes and cleaned and washed inside and out and the car looks great and they only charge 55 pesos!!!

Did some more chores and then went to the local deaf school where Sharon and John, a lovely Canadian couple who do so much for the local community, and helped with their Christmas project.

They placed boxes in local stores and restaurants and get gifts that are then taken out to the campo for Three Kings Day, which is the important day in the community…..so at the school with the help of many volunteers 1200 gifts were sorted and wrapped…I have helped Sharon and John now for 4 years with this project and was sort of a team leader and with help we wrapped over 250 gifts got them sorted into girls and boys with appropriate ages and put in bags and sorted ready for delivery on Saturday.

It took nearly 4 hours but we did the job…..I then went to Paola's house but again no one home!!!!

Back at home my great handy man Silvestre came over and fixed the gas heater in my fireplace and also installed the docking station for my Sirius radio in the car

He is such a good worker always reliable and very reasonable on his prices.

So it soon gets to be evening had supper and now going to get into the tub and listen to another Canucks hockey game.

I have never been one for making New year’s resolutions but this year in fact today I have made some that will bring some small changes in my life of course I hope for the better.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Nice to be in my own comfortable bed and had a good sleep and had breakfast watching a very exciting soccer game from England. Then caught up on laundry detail and putting things away from the trip.

This afternoon I went to deliver the sleeping bag I had bought for Paola but there was no one home. Next was to visit Linda and Guy and to catch up with them they have had a good holiday season but Guy refers warmer temperatures.

I then had a real quick visit with my friend Carol she is going to teach me next week all about how to use to my new Nexus 7 tablet that I bought last month in San Antonio. On the way home I stopped to see Paola but still no one home.

So I was home around 6 and had a good supper and now going to get into the tub and take my computer into the bathroom and listen to the Canucks hockey game.

Today is my uncle Bram’s Birthday…Bram is my Dad’s younger brother and I last saw him and my Aunt Rita last year..they are doing well …so have a great day…

Friday, December 27, 2013

I was on the road just by day light at 6.30am and arrived at the border 30 minutes later no holds up, no issues took the green light nothing to declare lane and sailed right through was not stopped for documentation inspection.

It was a good toll road to Chihuahua where I had arranged to meet Serene and Scott and I did get a little lost but eventually found the meet up place even though the hotel had changed names!!!

So we set out just around mid day…a little bit of rain to cause this

It was a good drive and nice to have some company drove till dusk and we found a hotel but it was full but a lady who works there told us about another hotel in the small town and she even drove and we followed her there….it is just a very small town but the room is rustic but clean

We went to the restaurant next door for a good meal

and then a walk through the town square…...

It is now 10m and had a good hot shower and ready for bed it was a 1000km drive but all went well….we should be home late tomorrow afternoon.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

My last day here and Frances invited me on another hike so we were on the trail by 9.30am..as you can tell lovely sunny skies and the hike was in total about 6 miles and again different scenery….

X is about where we were heading for.

Maggie found herself some water!!

The middle of that saddle is where we are going to turn around!!!

Made it and a view of both sides of the valley!!!

Still snow in the shade!!

It took us almost 4 hours but was a great hike….I then went into town to do some last minute shopping and then had to try my first

Not really impressed!!!!

I was home by 6pm and spent some time packing and the car is almost ready just have to do drinks and sandwiches tonight……my last hot tub soak was wonderful I have enjoyed the tub!!!

This is truly a wonderful place to say, Frances has thought out every detail and if you are ever in this area it will be an in justice if you do not stay here!!!

The plan is to leave tomorrow just after 6am and hopefully no line up at the border and my first stop is Chihuahua where I have arranged to pick up my friends Serena and Scott and then we travel onto SMA..we will have to stay tomorrow night somewhere on the road and hopefully be home late Saturday evening. About 1650 km a good drive for me which I always enjoy!!!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

I was out of the house by 9.30am Frances had suggested a hike to me and with good directions as I was at the trail head 30 minutes later.

As with all my hikes this week this one was lovely but quite different scenery enjoy…..

I never see anyone on the trails and I came upon this crop of rock overlooking the canyon and I thought what a great shot that would be..so I got my back pack and placed it on the outcrop and was about to take a photo when a couple came into view and she asked if I wanted her to take a photo..

You can see I am in a T shirt and I never thought I would need my tennis sweat band

This is where in the rainy season the water flows I bet it is very special.

I soon reached the end of the trail mentioned in the book but I saw the trail continued on so I did for about another mile but then turned around.

The panoramic setting on my camera.

When I stopped to have a drink I decided to build my own Christmas Tree.

It was a great hike I was gone just over 3 hours.

Now it was TURKEY DINNER time…..I went to buffet restaurant called Furr’s and for 11 dollars I had copious amounts of turkey

and some white breast meat even found it’s way into a

Ziploc bag I just happened to have with me!!!!

I stopped at the little town of Mesilla on the way home and this is a beautiful Mission church!!

I was back at the casita by 4pm and relaxed for a while reading then watched a good movie and then of course the hot tub and now getting things planned for my last day tomorrow.

Subject:Only Canadians will appreciate this one.

One winter morning a husband and wife in Regina were listening to the radio during breakfast. They heard the announcer say, "We are going to have 8 to 10 inches of snow today.. You must park your car on the even-numbered side of the street, so the snowplows can get through." So the good wife went out and moved her car.A week later while they are eating breakfast again, the radio announcer said, "We are expecting 10 to 12 inches of snow today. You must park your car on the odd-numbered side of the street, so the snowplows can get through." The good wife went out and moved her car again.The next week they are again having breakfast, when the radio announcer says, "We are expecting 12 to 14 inches of snow today. You must park....." Then the electric power went out. The good wife was very upset, and with a worried look on her face she said, "Honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park on so the snowplows can get through?" With the love and understanding in his voice, that all men who are married to Saskatchewan women exhibit, the husband replied, "Why don't you just leave it in the garage this time?"

I am being inundated by e mails from my female readers stating that it is indeed lovely to see shots of beautiful canyons, snow covered trees, years old petroglyphs BUT what about shots of you!!!!

Inundated maybe the wrong word ..perhaps only one e mail..perhaps none at all…but never forget it is my blog and I can do what I want…so here goes ladies……

I do so much thinking on these hikes and long days of driving and I do not want to sound like Willie Nelson….but all the women in my life!!!

In my 65 years I have been privileged to know so many wonderful, intelligent, caring and beautiful inside and out women. They have shaped my life, taught me about my life and how to be with myself and others… I just want to on this special day acknowledge everyone of them…know that I treasure all the time and energy you gave to me and I really believe that I am the man I am today because of all of you……..You are all beautiful and I have love for you all.